Mega Millions 12/17/13 - 8, 14, 17, 20 39 - mega 7

And the winning numbers for 12/17/13 are...

8
14
17
20
39
(7)

Did you play?

Did you win?

Alethea Anderson
MultiMediaMom.com

I love this song! Sailing by Christopher Cross

For this lovely Monday blog I wanted to share one of my favorite songs....



"Sailing"

Well, it's not far down to paradise, at least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away and find tranquility
Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see
Believe me

It's not far to never-never land, no reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy of innocence again
Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

Fantasy, it gets the best of me
When I'm sailing
All caught up in the reverie, every word is a symphony
Won't you believe me?

Sailing takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

Well it's not far back to sanity, at least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away and find serenity
Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

Alethea Anderson
MultiMediaMom.com

I Survived the Mall During the Holidays

So I thought I'd venture to the mall today, my logic was this - it will likely be busy, but not as busy as it will be next weekend...

When I got there it was not too bad, lot about half full, walking room, able to move in the stores... However two hours later one could not maneuver through a store...

Attempting to walk through the mall was a feat in itself, seriously WHY do people stop in the middle of 'traffic' to have a conversation?   Or suddenly bend over to tie a shoe?  Or squat to feed their kiddo in a stroller... Speaking of kiddos, the LINE to see Santa - OMG, no thank you.  Brave, brave parents I must say...

It seriously felt like THIS!

It got to the point that it was not joyous, like herds of cattle, struggling to get through a small gate.

Stores so crowded you could not even move if you had bags in your hands.  At this point I decided to vacate the premise.  I was amazed that the entire parking lot was full, people circling in cars, like vultures, stalking people walking in hopes of landing a parking spot...

All in perfect timing, I had my fun and I was getting loaded down and quite a work out carrying all those bags!  

I actually headed to a CVS and Rite Aid afterwards for wrapping paper, bows and the like - so nice, no crowds!

With all of this I'm not quite done yet, eek!

Alethea Anderson
MultiMediaMom.com

Pyramid Pan - Found at Rite Aid and Not "As (not) Seen on TV"

So I was at a Rite Aid the other day and noticed they had an "As Seen on TV!" section - so I browsed a bit and the Pyramid Pan caught my eye.  I, had not actually seen it on TV... As seen at Rite Aid I guess I could say!

Any-who... I am not usually one of those gimmick shoppers, the last thing I got from TV was The Magic Bullet, which I love - and I admit I am considering The NutriBullet.  But - back to the Pyramid Pan.

I looked at this oddly shaped piece of silicone, rolled up in a little box pondering why exactly it was called a 'pan'.  And, well, after reading said box, I got one...  I thought it'd be great for cooking my Chicken Parmesan as well as potato wedges and things of the like.  The food is elevated onto the raised points, and does not have to be flipped.  he heat and air circulates all around the food.  No flipping, no sticking!  In my world it seems that no matter the method I use, end up having some sticking going on... so it seemed worth the $14 or so that I spent.

Last night I wanted to make my fabulous Garlic Rosemary Potatoes with dinner so I busted out the Pyramid Pan, placed it on a cookie sheet, made my taters and put the pan to work.

Per the instructions, the oven needs to be a bit hotter, and you need to be prepared to cook the food a little longer.  Yes and yes... I turned the oven up about 25 degrees hotter, and the taters took a LOT longer...

However I did notice that they were cooking nicely, and that all the excess moisture was dripping into the 'pan' and not creating that sticking I know all to well.  The only bummer is that I did not realize how much potatoes 'sweated' and since I used a flat sided cookie sheet and not a rimmed cookie sheet I had to do a little foil intervention to prevent a dripping mess inside the oven.

When they were done cooking, they came right off, no issue, no sticks and delicious!  Though I did not get the usual crispy brown edges, they were actually the perfect amount of crisp and the family ate 'em up...

It took a little creative placement to figure out a way for the Pyramid Pan to fit in the dishwasher, poingint a way it would actually get cleaned and yet not flopping over or blocking any jets.  It cleaned nicely and is ready for its next cooking adventure.  I will indeed use this handy dandy "As Seen on TV!" (at Rite Aid) gizmo again!

Alethea Anderson
MultiMediaMom.com

A visit to Satan Claus... Why Do Parents Torture Their Kids This Time of Year?

Thinking back in time I wonder why it is that we parents are compelled to stand in a line for over an hour next to other parents with crabby, cough ridden, snot nose dripping, whiny children who all happen to be hungry and have to go to the bathroom - all while it's blatantly obvious that it is past their nap time?

WHO started this crazy tradition of taking the kid to see Satan Claus, and pay an arm and a leg, for photos  - at a shopping mall... Certainly something some mall somewhere conjured up to bring in shoppers...

From the moment our kids can start talking and walking, we tell them not to talk to strangers, not to go with them and of course, not to sit on their laps.  Then what do we do?  Take them to the stranger-in-the-red suit, tell them to sit on his lap, and smile for a picture. All while this stranger who just may or may not smell like booze and child-urine, is asking what it is he can get your child for Christmas....

On top of that you have some teen age 'elves' who are  not very Christmas-cheery any more realizing their pay is hardly enough to be dealing with crabby, coughing, dripping, whining, hungry, gotta-go-to-the-potty, tired children....

I was pretty fortunate, I didn't take my kiddo to see Mr. Claus until she was old enough to be aware of who Santa actually was - so she never developed that fear... Well, she went when she was 3 and 4, then at 5 it was a firm 'no' so I didn't push the issue (grin)

Isn't she darling?  She's 15 now so don't tell her I posted these online!!!

To those of you who have made this journey this year, my hat is off to you... to those of you who are planning on hitting the mall this weekend, I wish you the best!

But enjoy every moment with those little ones, it is all too soon that they are rapidly approaching fifteen-and-a-half and wanting to start driving!

Merry-Happy-Blessed-all-the-holidays-and-whatever-holiday-you-celebrate!

Alethea Anderson

MultiMediaMom.com

Have You Ever Noticed - Your Mood is Reflected in Those Around You?

Some believe that the things you see in others are a reflection of things that one needs to work on within....

I am a firm believer of this, though sometimes it can be a hard bite to chew.

When you go into the world, happy, it seems you are greeted by happy faces everywhere!  The moods of the people you encounter seem cheery, their actions friendly...

However when you go into the world, grumpy, it seems you are greeted by grumpy faces everywhere! The moods of he people you encounter seem grumpy, their actions not-friendly...

If you 'expect' to have a good day - you will!

If you 'expect' to have a bad day - you will!

Something to chew on... it's all about choices!  Choose happy, be happy, see happy, experience happy!

Smiling,

Alethea Anderson
MultiMediaMom.com

Do you Believe Paths Cross for a Reason?

Today I went into one of my favorite shops in Walnut Creek, a little shop I've been going to since high school with a unique collection of goodies.  I love to wander around the store, I could stay there all day!

While finishing up shopping, I started talking with the woman tending the store - do you ever just have that 'connection' with someone?   Sometimes you find an answer to a question you had been seeking, or even be led in the correct direction from a path you were lost on...  Other times you feel you can just open up and speak freely, or like you were long lost friends...

I fully believe that every interaction we have with someone has meaning, even if just an eye contact or a smile.  There is something to gain from that energy exchange!  We just need to be aware...

Grateful for my connection today!

Always be open to see 'why' you are crossing paths, don't miss the message!

Alethea Anderson
MultiMediaMom.com